‘Cause it’s scary in the Monster Kingdoms!
The Monster Kingdoms crowdfunding campaign on BackerKit is not quite half-way through and we’re more than 200% funded and have achieved three Stretch Goals and are headed towards the fourth! Thanks to everybody who has pledged so far- we’ve got lots of goodies to go!
Back to the monstrous Kingdoms themselves, here’s a vid where Matthew actually discusses which is the nastiest Kingdom in the game:
A huge part of the game is, unsurprisingly, the Kingdoms, and we are striving to present enough info about each one so that players can get ideas for how to play in each of them – but without drowning in info. Part of the way we are giving folks more info is through the fiction bits throughout the book, and as a feature of the crowdfunding campaign, the ongoing travelogue sections we’ve been giving out to backers. (They also show parts of the map as our “guide” travels through that area – Mapmaker Rich). Here’s Matthew with more about the travelogues:
I understand a lot of you have been enjoying Domina’s travelogue of the Monster Kingdoms over on the BackerKit updates we’ve been dropping routinely! Rich asked if I could explain some of the thinking behind the tour of Gewinn, and I’m more than happy to do so.
Way back when, when we were crowdfunding V20 Dark Ages, we created a travelogue of the domains of Europe to update the setting to its new era (the 1240s) and introduce some of the interesting characters within. Rich and I decided it would be fun to revisit the concept to introduce the new setting of Gewinn for Monster Kingdoms. Our point of view character this time is Domina, a young magus from the Kingdom of Draoiadhaek! I wanted to have the speaker be an uncharacteristically naive and optimistic (yet still evil) character about to leave her kingdom for the first time with all the thrill of exploration and discovery.
And for her to then realise the world is bloody awful.
Domina makes a journey from Draoidahaek down to the dead Kingdom of Dys, from Dys to the vampiric Kingdom of Creuore, sail from Creuore to the mind-drilling Kingdom of the Malignant Mind, and so on. Each stop she recruits new mercenaries (a lot of them die or go missing) or encounters new dangers and wonders, and slowly but surely, her optimism erodes. We get to hear about her becoming a crownbearer, wielding her sceptre, encountering many of the colourful characters of the Monster Kingdoms, and end up imprisoned, enslaved, on the run, in battles, and so on.
If you want to find out about a given part of the Monster Kingdoms from the perspective of a fresh-faced explorer, this travelogue will prove a lot of fun and very informative for you. Let us know where you want to see Domina go next!
Thanks, Matthew!
Last week we ran an Actual Play for Monster Kingdoms on our Twitch that will also be available on our YouTube channel soon, and Kim Godwin ran a different AP last week in Japan that you can read about right here, if you’re not a vid watching AP fan, plus she talks a bit about the aspects of the game she worked on:
I ran a one-shot of Monster Kingdoms at the Asakusa Infinity Game Night for the Tokyo Roleplay Society on Friday in Asakusa, Japan called “The Labyrinth of the Bloody Maw”.
The pitch was “”You are a band of mercenaries in a world where the forces of light have fallen in bloody conflict to the forces of darkness. On an expedition to uncover a stolen cache of weapons, something is picking off your troops in the night. Something must be done.”
Our mercenaries got right into the case of where their troops disappeared too and discovered a bloody trail through the forest into a wet cavern. They navigated tight tunnels and found dangers in closer quarters than they desired. But they ultimately saved what was left of their missing soldiers and reclaimed the treasure buried within the labyrinth.They used the power of their crowns and sceptres to deal with the monstrosities they discovered. I built this scenario to challenge the group because with just how powerful the Crowns and Sceptres are – open places with lots of enemies are not as hard to deal with by design. I greatly appreciated Tom sharing the characters he made for his StartPlaying sessions to our writing group, as they cut down my already limited prep time. So a big thank you to Tom, Yannik and Jeremy of Tokyo Roleplay Society and the owners of Infinity Books for letting me run another one-shot of the Earthbane Cycle!
For Monster Kingdoms, I had the joy of tackling Edges for another Earthbane Cycle game and the challenge of creating Sceptres. Sceptres were a particular challenge because each had to feel powerful and be more than just a magical weapon. Each has a short history, mundane effects, and activated effects. So making sure every sceptre was unique in what they did with a cool (sometimes interconnected) story within the word count was a challenge. It’s been a blast getting to work on different, yet similar aspects of all of the Earthbane Cycle games. As I run more one shots of the Earthbane Cycle, I get ideas for what I could do next for another scenario or game book.
Thanks, Kim – always great to hear that people are having fun with one of our worlds, and that even someone as involved with the writing as you are is still being inspired to run more games. We’ve always said it’s a great sign if the creative team is bubbling with ideas, because so will the players!
And speaking of a writer bubbling with ideas, here we hear from another of the Monster Kingdoms‘ creative team: writer Jason Inczauskis, with some ideas about having written about the Crowns, and just what the darn things are:
Hello, dear readers. I’m Jason Inczauskis, one of the writers for Monster Kingdoms. It’s been fantastic seeing all the excitement about this game. I’ve enjoyed seeing all the questions and character ideas people have been sharing. I had a lot of fun writing for this game, and I think people are going to have a blast playing it. If my calculations are correct, this should show up just before the manuscript preview featuring the edges, sceptres, and crowns. Since I had the privilege of writing the crowns, this seems like a great opportunity to talk about them.
Crowns are extremely potent, and play an important role in the power dynamics in Monster Kingdoms. Characters don’t purchase crowns or gain them by leveling up in some manner like the powers in so many other games. The most common way to gain new ones is to usurp them from one’s foes. Doing so increases the character’s infamy, which in turn can improve the effectiveness of all of their crowns. The reverse is also true, though, as suffering a significant defeat can allow a foe to seize one of theirs. This can lead to ongoing feuds, as bitter rivals steal the same crown back from their enemy only to lose it again in their next confrontation.
The crowns are each associated with a Dusk which best reflects its own inclinations, and they’re most cooperative with a crownbearer who shares this Dusk. A darkling wielding the Crown of Hungry Graves to slowly drag their foes into the cold ground works with an eager partner. The same darkling would have a more complicated relationship with the Crown of Vanquished Death, as the Light Crown would much prefer to spare the lives of all around it to bring hope for survival rather than despair at being denied death’s sweet embrace. A crown that becomes defiant is harder to control, and may even betray their master when they need it most if the crownbearer fails to reassert their dominance.
One of the most entertaining parts about writing the crowns was trying to find ways to make them all seem a bit overpowered while still covering a wide range of abilities. I wanted each to feel like the sort of thing that might be worth going to war over, if only to make sure it isn’t in the hands of your enemy. I’d like to believe I succeeded, but we’ll see once that preview is in the hands of the backers. I think any crown could easily give rise to a story, and I can’t wait to hear the creative ways players wield them.
Lots of ways to check out the game, the way it plays, and the lore all over our social media – including active threads on our Discord and on RPG.net. We’ve posted a bit on Reddit, too, and will be adding a bunch of short vids to various sites, as well.
Check out all the monsters…and be one too!
I’ll do my best to mitigate the noise but it’s absurd.
Well, who hasn’t said that for one reason or another? Today, it was because one of our MM team’s upstairs neighbor was remodeling. This is an aspect of the virtual office that we’ve all dealt with over the years – our environments aren’t always helpful when we’re trying to have a meeting!
But somehow, we make it through and have the Monday Meeting anyway, and talk about things like:
How are things going progress-wise with Curseborne and the Curseborne Player’s Guide? Well, first of all, as we pulled together the material for the Curseborne Player’s Guide Kickstarter campaign (just a few weeks in October), we realized that the original subtitle wasn’t really necessary. And it sort of suggested aspects that just were never intended for the book. So rather than confuse folks and make them wonder “where the witches are” in the book, we have officially dropped it and we’re using the self-explanatory CB PG as the full title.
Speaking of which, here’s a preview teaser for you:
Mirthful Mike has delivered most of the Curseborne core book into proofing, although he is still fine-tuning the Lineages section because we know folks want to see their favorite Families shine! He has some pretty exciting ideas, and considering how great the rest of the book already looks, these will be a treat!
We have a bunch of sales listed in The Blurbs! below, but I want to draw your attention to this one. No wait, how about I cede the floor to Travis and let him tell you about it (as he’s really thrilled with how well Dagger of Spiragos is selling – and well he should be!):
I wanted to call your attention to the Savage September Sale over at DriveThruRPG! Scarred Lands releases from Aegis Studios are all included in the sale, including the Ring of Spiragos (SWADE) Advance PDF, which has consistently remained in the top 10 Savage Worlds products on DriveThruRPG since the sale launched! The sale has also brought Dagger of Spiragos (SWADE) into Copper Best Seller status and helped get several of our Scarred Lands Creature Profiles out to folks. If you’ve not yet checked out the Scarred Lands for Savage Worlds releases, there’s just under a week left, so you’ll want to act quickly to be sure you don’t miss it. Between the Spiragos Saga adventures and our Creature Profiles, you have access to over 170 creatures and NPCs, eight playable ancestries, seven cultural packages, new setting rules, languages, and a wealth of information about Southeastern Ghelspad. Ready-Made characters are included in Gauntlet of Spiragos with new art by Rich Thomas and guidelines are provided throughout the Spiragos Saga for advancing your characters. Even if you’ve never played Savage Worlds before, the material in the Spiragos Saga, combined with the Savage Worlds Adventure Edition core rulebook, gives you everything you need to begin your adventures in the Scarred Lands! If you’d like to learn more about the Scarred Lands by reading fiction set there, you can also save on Scarred Lands Fiction at DriveThruFiction!
And folks, this is just the beginning. Keep an eye on this space for more news about the Scarred Lands Players Guide (SWADE) in the weeks to come!
Thanks, Travis, and congrats! The Scarred Lands in any edition is still one of the easiest to grasp fantasy settings out there, with both an epic and tragic backstory that provides a thrilling basis for sword and sorcery fantasy adventures!
One more thing I did want to reiterate this week, is that I’m going to be in Boston this coming Friday, the 12th and Saturday the 13th, where I’ll be signing cards and doing orders for alters at Lobstercon! If you’re a classic Magic: the Gathering fan, c’mon by and chat a bit!
I mean, I’m gonna be there no matter what, so I’d love to see ya – but it’s OK if you can’t as there’s other times and places where we can discuss our:
Many Worlds, One Path!
Blurbs!
Crowdfunding!
Monster Kingdoms!
OVER 200% FUNDED! Use this link here to join all the monsters!
Onyx Path Media!
Check out our attached media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week!
This week on the Onyx Path News, Matthew discusses Realms of Pugmire, Scarred Lands, and the Monster Kingdoms crowdfunder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NDhWzr8DEk
Matthew (the Gentleman Gamer) has also made a video about how to play Monster Kingdoms right here: https://youtu.be/mQHR4BJZwgE
Matthew also covered how dungeon crawling works in Monsters Kingdoms: https://youtu.be/iOmr1QPFGvE
And there’s more, as Matthew discusses which of the kingdoms is the least pleasant to live in right here: https://youtu.be/cRPQxuq-2Z8
Virtual Tabletop!
Scion Demigod Available on Roll20 NOW!
The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing
The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are now available! https://foundryvtt.co
They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea
Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of tokens, encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG! https://bit.ly/3SnrNJ7
Our Sales Partners!
We’re working with Studio2 to provide our traditionally printed books out into your local game stores. Game stores can order via their usual distributors, and can also contact Studio2 directly. And individuals can check out our projects via the links below!
Select Chronicles of Darkness Screens and Monarchies of Mau books,
screens, and dice 50% off at Studio 2:
https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing
Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/
Some last chance/clearance titles at IPR:
https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Last-Chance/
As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!
The Savage September Sale includes Scarred Lands Adventures &
Creatures from Aegis Studios:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/338/aegis-studios?promo=45278
And a few Scarred Lands novels from Onyx Path Publishing:
https://www.drivethrufiction.com/sale.php?manufacturers_id=4261
The first part of the print shopping experiment is live on DTRPG:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?format=1000240-book-printed-publisher-fulfilled
This is limited to the USA only at first, but will expand later after data crunching and review.
Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).
On Sale This Week!
We spin up the PDF and PoD versions of the Aether Jumpstart: The Peculiar Murder of the Irregular Inventor over on DTRPG this Weds!
Plus, you can download the Trinity Continuum: Aether Screen PDF this Wednesday too on DTRPG!
Conventions!
Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!
We’ll have demo games running at these upcoming conventions:
Paganomicon 10/25 – 10/26
Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at StartPlaying is the last Friday of every month and through that weekend! Come play some Curseborne that night! (But any of our game lines are welcome all weekend long!)
Here’s a link to give anyone $10 credit to play games on Start.Playing:
https://startplaying.games/referral/clog9y0v10006ju0968iev95m
Please spread the word about GMing games as much as possible! Details on how list a game are at the bottom of the page in the FAQ:
https://startplaying.games/event/game-night-onyx-path
Project Status Updates!
Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out August’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-august-2025/
DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!
Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:
DEVELOPMENT
The World Below – Secrets of Kalm and Kaos: The World Below Storyguide’s Handbook
- A developer shouldn’t have favourites, but now we have rules for pets in the The World Below, this one may be my favourite World Below sourcebook.
ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!
In Art Direction
- Ex 3 Sidereals Companion – Working up art buy.
- Ex Essence PG -Working up art buy.
- Curseborne PG KS – Sketches…
- Monster Kingdoms (BK) – Crowdfunder funded and running.
Layout
- TC Anima AR – Getting map info over to cartographer.
- Pugmire 2E Screen
Proofing Queue
- Branch Riders
- SCION Rock Gods – Working on inputting proof notes.
- Curseborne – Proofing, working on Lineages pages.
- Ex3 Miracles of the Divine Flame – Prepping to send off to Paradox.
At Press
- They Came From the RPG Anthology VTT
- TC Aether – At Studio2, starting to ship physical books to backers.
- Scion God – At Studio2, starting to ship physical books to backers.
- Scion God Screen – En Route to Studio 2.
- TC Aether Screen – PDF ON SALE THIS WEDS ON DTRPG! Physical copies En Route to Studio 2.
- TC Aether Jumpstart – PDF and PoD versions on sale this Weds on DTRPG!
Today’s Reason to Celebrate!
It’s Star Trek Day! An annual informal commemorative day celebrated around the world on September 8, referencing the broadcast premiere of the original Star Trek series on that day in 1966. Activities typically include screenings, interviews, thematic events, and the release of franchise-related content. It has also included collaborations with global nonprofit organizations that resonate with the franchise’s foundational values, such as education, social change, and inclusion. These partnerships aim to promote a positive outlook on the future, reflecting the series’ aspirational messages as well as encouraging fans to envision their influence on future developments.
WOO HOO! I’ve got tracking on Scion: God. Just waiting on Aether now.